A92857:434
The riches of grace displayed in the offer and tender of salvation to poor…
The riches of grace displayed in the offer and tender of salvation to poor sinners. Wherein is set out, the gracious behaviour of Christ, standing at the door and knocking for entrance. The dutiful behaviour of sinners in hearing Christs voice and opening to him. And the comfortable event upon them both. / By Obadiah Sedgwick. B.D. and late minister of the Gospel in Covent-Garden.
London: printed by T.R. & E.M. for Adoniram Byfield, 1657
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Sol The Reasons are these.
1. Christ is made ours only by believing: This is that which immediately, and fully draws up ⟨p. 130⟩1the match 'twixt a soul and Christ, and faith excludes no sinner: If any sinner can believe he shall have Christ. Indeed if Christ did offer himself to be ours upon the legal condition of inherent perfection; (habitual and actual) then every precedent transgression, and every present defect or want of rectitude, would have rendered us uncapable of his person and union. The Law receives no sinner to mercy. But because he tenders himself only upon believing, now no sinner is pre-judged, the way is open and free to any one. Christ doth not deal with us at all (in this opening work) but as absolute sinners; nor doth faith (herein) deal with Christ, but as with an absolute Saviour: He knows that we are cast by the Law, and therefore addresses himself to us in the way of the New Covenant, which requires nothing in the world from us, ⟨p. 131⟩but only believe, only come, only open to me. The least sinner cannot have Christ any other way, and the greatest sinner may enjoy him upon these terms.
1. Christ is made ours only by beleeving: This is that which immediately, and fully draws up ⟨p. 130⟩1the match 'twixt a soule and Christ, and faith excludes no sinner: If any sinner can beleeve he shall have Christ. Indeed if Christ did offer himself to be ours upon the legal condition of inherent perfection; (habitual and actual) then every precedent transgression, and every present defect or want of rectitude, would have rendred us uncapable of his person and union. The Law receives no sinner to mercy. But because he tenders himself onely upon beleeving, now no sinner is pre-judged, the way is open and free to any one. Christ doth not deal with us at all (in this opening work) but as absolute sinners; nor doth faith (herein) deal with Christ, but as with an absolute Saviour: He knows that we are cast by the Law, and therefore addresses himself to us in the way of the New Covenant, which requires nothing in the world from us,